Car Shopping!!

Post Reply New Topic

These last couple of days my husband and I have been trying to buy a new car. However car shopping has got to be one of the biggest socail headaches for Aspie's. I could not stand it! They talk in circles, they are not upfront or direct about anything, and they don't listen to you. I mean if I say I can only put down $2,000 why am I not heard?

I think trying to purchase a car presents all of the problems that Aspie's can have with social issues. Anyone agree with me? I don't know about you, but I am terrible with the whole haggling thing.

Oh yeah I stink at the haggling thing. However, I do fairly well at buying cars because my dad took me with him everytime. I still hate to do it however, and I totally embarras my husband. Have to say the last two cars we bought my husband did the choosing alone and I just went in to sign papers. Of course on the last one we really did pay too much but oh well he got to make the deal and he need that

http://www.carbuyingtips.com

This website shows how to not get screwed when buying or leasing a car.

I studied this site for 3 weeks before buying my Honda Civic and saved over a thousand dollars.

I like the idea of no haggle car buying such as carmax.

This site seems interesting, haven't really checked them out though.

http://www.carpricesecrets.com/index.php

I've found that doing plenty of research (and bringing along a mean-looking boyfriend, haha) helps counteract some of the problems present in car shopping. Here are some websites that I found helpful when car shopping:

http://www.intellichoice.com/
http://www.caranddriver.com/

I secured my financing before going car shopping at a local credit union, and determined a good price range. I also got a copy of Consumer Reports. I picked out the type of car (small, something that doesn't suck on gas milage, but not so small that it's less powerful than a lawn mower) I wanted before shopping. I brought along my binder full of research in case I started getting overloaded and couldn't think straight.

I spent 3 weeks car shopping - 1.5 weeks of nothing but research, and 1.5 weeks of test driving and such. It worked out well. Being prepared made a world of difference. When I was in college I had to hurry to buy a car because my old one died, my price range was low, and I didn't have any credit. That sucked!

They hear you - they just don't want to listen.

Tell them up front, then if they try to haggle, ask for someone who listens. Insist on talking to the manager if you need to, in order to get a person who listens.

Also - do online research up front. My husband researched our car a lot before hand so when we walked in, we knew what we wanted (a Toyota Prius). When the guy tried to talk us into more than we wanted, we said we'd have to go somewhere else that listens. They got very accomodating then.

If you stand up to leave, they are very good at listening suddenly. If you are firm about what you want and don't, and keep to it, then you're better off.

Good luck.

Anna

I just act like myself around car salesmen; that always screws them up.

Them: "This car looks AWESOME in red, doesn't it? What do you think?"
Me: "It's OK, as long as it's not hot pink I don't really care what color it is."

Them: "Feel how it pulls! This car is really fast, isn't it?"
Me: "Not bad, I was expecting a little better though."

Them: "So how much do you want to pay per month?"
Me: "I'm much more concerned with the actual cost of the car."

Them: "You really should protect your investment with our special paint protection package, it'll make the paint look brand new and it'll last for 20 years!"
Me: "I'm not interested in paying $600 for a wax job."

Them: "No, there's no way we can go that low on the price."
Me: "Alright, well there are 3 other cars I'm looking at that I like more, for the same price. Thanks anyway."
Them: "Hang on, let me talk to my manager!"